An Evaluation of Supported Scaffold Safety (Presented at the 12 th Annual Construction Safety...
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Transcript of An Evaluation of Supported Scaffold Safety (Presented at the 12 th Annual Construction Safety...
An Evaluation of Supported Scaffold
Safety(Presented at the 12th Annual
Construction Safety Conference, Rosemont, IL, May 2002)
Ken Halperin, PhDConsultantE-mail: [email protected]
Michael McCann, PhD, CIHDirector of Safety and ErgonomicsCenter to Protect Workers’ RightsE-mail: [email protected]
Fatal Falls from Supported Scaffolds, 1992-98
Total # of deaths = 267 (38/year) 217 falls (81%) 47 collapses (18%)
15 deaths (6%) dismantling scaffolds 6 deaths (2%) assembling scaffolds
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data
Research Methods Used a 150-point checklist to evaluate
scaffold safety practice Rated scaffolds as acceptable or
unacceptable Evaluated 113 scaffolds in 9 areas of
Eastern U.S. Also evaluated information on worksite,
workforce, and scaffold competent person.
Results
36 of the 113 scaffolds (32%) were unacceptable and posed imminent hazards: danger of collapse missing planking, guardrails, and/or inadequate access
77 scaffolds (68%) were acceptable and posed no imminent danger to the workers.
30 Scaffolds (27%) Had Structural Flaws
Missing or improperly supported base plates 17 Scaffold not tied
properly to building 13 Platform not level 6 Some runners missing 3 Some jacks overextended 2 Severe overloading 2 Some posts incorrect 1 Some braces not tight 1
36 Scaffolds (32%) Had Fall Hazards
# fall hazards Missing mid guardrails 33 Missing top guardrails 28*
* Also missing midrails Improper access
Climbing scaffold frame 23 Other severe access problems 5
Partially planked platforms 26 Substandard planks 3
Correlation between Structural Flaws and Fall
Hazards
36 scaffolds were unacceptable 23 had both structural flaws and
fall hazards 10 had fall hazards only 3 had structural flaws only
Problems of Unacceptable Scaffolds
36 scaffolds were unacceptable 92% were missing guardrails 83% had structural flaws 78% had poor access 72% were insufficiently planked
Scaffold Competent Person
Required by OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3) requires inspections
by competent person before each work shift and after occurrences which could affect scaffold structural integrity
Competent person Recognize hazards Authorized to take corrective action
Competent Persons on Scaffold Sites
104 sites had workers present 82 (79%) had competent persons 10 sites (10%) said competent person was not present 72 competent persons were interviewed
Only 32 (44%) had scaffold safety training
Need for Competent Person Scaffold Safety Training
32 sites had competent persons who had scaffold safety training 25 scaffolds (78%) were acceptable
62 sites had no competent person or had one without scaffold safety training 24 scaffolds (39%) were acceptable
Importance of Scaffold Erector
72 scaffolds erected by scaffold user 43 (60%) were acceptable
41 scaffolds erected by scaffold erection contractor 34 (83%) were acceptable
Effect of Union Status of Scaffold Erector
49 scaffolds erected by union contractors 38 (78%) were acceptable
64 scaffolds erected by non-union contractors 39 (61%) were acceptable
Effect of Type of Supported Scaffold
86/113 scaffolds (76%) were frame scaffolds 54 frame scaffolds (63%) were
acceptable
27 scaffolds (24%) were other types of scaffolds 23 other scaffolds (85%) were acceptable
Summary of Proper Scaffold Safety Practice -1
Unacceptable scaffolds have both: Structural flaws
Missing or improperly supported base plates
Improper tying off to building Uneven platform slope
Fall protection hazards Missing planking and/or guardrails Inadequate access
Summary of Proper Scaffold Safety Practice - 2
Strong correlations with: Presence of competent person with scaffold
safety training Use of non-frame scaffolds Scaffold erected by scaffold erection
company Slightly weaker correlation with union
status of scaffold erector
Summary of Proper Scaffold Safety Practice - 3
No correlation with: Location Site size Number of workers on the scaffold Trade of scaffold workers
Recommendations
Hire an outside scaffold erector Have competent person on site
who has had scaffold safety training
Consider whether frame scaffolds are the best choice
Perform regular inspections
Quick Scaffold Inspection Checklist
Check for missing planks on platforms Check for missing guardrails Check for proper access Check for proper tying off to buildings
Note: The first 3 points find 92% of unacceptable scaffolds
Missing Planks
Missing Guardrails
Improper Access
Electronic Library of Construction Safety and Health (eLCOSH):
www.elcosh.orgThe Center to Protect Workers’ Rights
www.cpwr.com
This presentation was funded by research grant U60 CCU 317202 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) through The Center to Protect Workers’ Rights, Silver Spring, Md. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH.
Further Information on Construction Safety and
Health